ACUPULCO, Mexico -- A San Francisco man died after a shark attacked him while he was surfing off Mexico's southern Pacific coast, authorities in the southern state of Guerrero said Tuesday.

The man was identified by Mexican authorities as Adrian Ruiz, 24, according to a Mexican newspaper Web site, Despertar de la Costa.

Ruiz bled to death on Monday after a tiger shark bit his right thigh, leaving a 15-inch wound, the Guerrero state Public Safety Department said in a statement.

The attack occurred at the Troncones beach, about 45 minutes west by car from the beach resort of Ixtapa.

The statement said the victim suffered wounds "that reached from the hip to the knee, exposing the femur."

Ruiz was still alive when he was brought back to the beach. While an ambulance was called, it took so long to reach Troncones - a relatively isolated, undeveloped beach - that a bystander took the victim to a local naval hospital in his car.

Ruiz, however, died a few minutes after reaching the hospital "due to a loss of blood," according to the statement.

Shark attacks are relatively rare in Mexico.

The newspaper said the shark, estimated to weigh as much as 660 pounds, attacked Ruiz about 325 yards from shore. The paper said Ruiz had just arrived for a vacation with six friends.

Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of UnderwaterTimes.com, its staff or its advertisers.

well its sad someone had died but we are in their territory.
comment# 2 - brittany · orlando, Fl · May 1, 2008 @ 4:58am

Indeed, Brittany. My sympathies DO go out to his family and friends, but not to him. People - especially those of us on the West Coast - know very well about the risks of surfing, swimming, etc. in the Pacific Ocean. Don't want to possibly be attacked by a shark? DON'T GO IN THE WATER.
(I don't - for that very reason.)
comment# 3 - Gypsy · Tacoma, WA - USA · May 1, 2008 @ 11:12am

Yep, we are in their territory and know the risks. Then should we also stay out of Yosemite and other national parks because of bears? Logically, then, we should have no sympathy for anyone killed by any animal. Or by gangs in their territory? We know the risks. It is too easy to make general statements online. Of course the two recent attacks are tragedies. To say there is no sympathy for the men killed in this horrific way is pathetic. We can try to protect people and the environment at the same time.
comment# 4 - Scott · Van Nuys, CA · May 2, 2008 @ 8:32am

I was personally his friend and he was an awesome guy, he loved everyone and he loved life. To say that you have no sympathy.. you do realize that getting in your car to go get coffee has inherently more risk than swimming in the PACIFIC Ocean.. Being theres been only a handful of deaths EVER in the PACIFIC ocean due to sharks means 200+million people can swim in the ocean before one dies from a shark. Adrian will be missed.
comment# 5 - Frankly Upset Gypsy · San Francisco · May 2, 2008 @ 6:55pm

Saying you have no sympathy is totally heartless. My wife's family is from this Town (Troncones) The very spot this man was fatally injured and my five old son swims in these very waters three weeks every year. Sympathies to family and friends
comment# 6 - Jeff · Minneapolis, USA · May 2, 2008 @ 8:46pm

Ignorance and insensitivity is not needed in the world we live in today.
comment# 7 - I agree with Frankly Upset Gypsy · San Francisco · May 3, 2008 @ 2:04am

My deepest sympathy to the family of this man-you were fortunate to have such a happy and fun-loving person in your lives. I am sure you wil miss him.
comment# 8 - Lorraine · Philadelphia, PA · May 4, 2008 @ 12:44am

I live in Tacoma , when was the last time we had a shark attack off the Washington coast ???? California, Oregon YES
Washington NO!! You should be ashamed of yourself(gypsy) for being so insensitive.
comment# 9 - Carey · Tacoma WAshington · May 4, 2008 @ 10:54am

wow. scary, i just surfed troncones in December. the guy who dropped me off in the panga told me that the area is full of sharks. and i cut my hand open when i was surfing. deep sympathies to the family of this young man, my last name is Ruiz too, wonder if we were related. if you're scared of sharks always talk to fishermen before surfing a break, they always know best. ridiculous that they are hunting sharks indiscriminately to get the one that attacked.
comment# 10 - cb · providence RI · May 5, 2008 @ 8:23am

Gypsy obviously you have never had a close friend or loved one killed. I feel sorry for you because you were born without a heart! Adrian was very special to our family and loved life and loved everyone including nature. His goal in life was to make people happy. To have someone react like that is uncalled for. I'm sorry I have to agree Frankly Upset Gypsy!
comment# 11 - Gypsy you are pretty pathetic · Northern, CA · May 6, 2008 @ 2:33pm

Holy Moly that was quite a bite - I didn't think it was going to be that bad. I've surfed Troncones and its not that fun (especially compared to other local spots) but 1 shark attack wouldn't prevent me from going. How many shark fatalities are there every year - how many surf sessions are there in a year - I would say the odds of getting killed by a shark surfing are pretty close to zero. I would be a lot more scared of hitting my head on the rocks at Troncones than a shark eating me. Gypsy you sound like a genius I wouldn't go in the water in Washington either but that would be to avoid hypothermia dumbass
comment# 12 - Jimmy Roberts · LA, CA · May 6, 2008 @ 5:44pm

Adrian was my friend, co-worker, damn near my brother, in my eyes, and for anyone to have anything bad to say about him or this incident, think before you speak because you just wait for the day something tragic happens to someone you know, let alone if you even care enough for anyone. Then, we'll see how well you take it. If you didn't meet this man, sorry for you because he was "the man," and there is no one nicer, with the best personality I have ever meet, than him...anyways Adrian will be missed and NEVER forgotten in our thoughts and in our hearts..RIP Adrian..Miss ya and Love ya bro!
comment# 13 - Chris DZ · San Mateo, CA · May 8, 2008 @ 4:52am

My heart goes out to this mans family and all who knew him. I was attacked by a tiger shark in Hawaii July 19, 2007 and was fortunate to have lived. I couldnt believe some of the heartless attacks and jokes made about my situation, some of which were read by my children. While I agree we are in there environment, I dont believe that gives others the right to say they have no sympathy for those whom suffer a tragedy. Sharks attack because they are looking for food, what is your purpose for attacking this man? May God bless his family and friends as they deal with this loss. Adrian sounds like a wonderful man, I wish I could have known him.
comment# 14 - Harvey Miller · Toledo, Ohio USA · May 9, 2008 @ 4:04am

i've been there with a mate ten days before the attack...we didn't like the waves so we move on to saladita. it seems we were lucky by this desicion. some useless treehuger dickheads here can't/won't understand that with this guy a whole familiy died emotionally! instead they start a discussion about marine enviroment! you'r such morons. sympathies to his family and friends...
comment# 16 - bender · berlin, germany · May 23, 2008 @ 9:45am

To Richard poh: That was an inapproprate comment.
Sharkfin soup should be banned. The animal is mutilated and left to die. SHAME on you. My heart goes out to the victim and family.
comment# 17 - Joel · Columbia, USA · May 24, 2008 @ 8:43am

GYPSY..............YOU ARE A COMPLETE less than intelligent person. NOT GOING IN THE WATER WOULD BE LIKE NOT DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY TO WORK. WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF GETTING KILLED IN A CAR VERSUS A SHARK ATTACK. TWO HUNDRED BILLION TO ONE. GET A CLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
comment# 18 - KEITH · FARMINGTON NEW MEXICO UNITED STATES · May 24, 2008 @ 3:41pm

My deepest sympathy for the loss of an amazing guys and avid surfer- although I don't know him, he is my hero...lost his life doing what he was passionate about. There are inherent risks in anything we do and as a surfer, we all know that this is one we face..Gypsy is not worth any of our negative energy- some people are just bad and anyone who can comment like that lacks knowledge and sympathy for humanity. I had planned a surf trip to Tracones and was supposed to leave on Saturday- I'm canceling. To all of Adrien's friends and family- I'm truly sorry, he is in all our hearts and he will be remembered through the passion and stoke we all share for the magical ocean waves.
comment# 19 - waterlili · marina del rey, CA, USC · May 26, 2008 @ 11:47pm

I have surfed down in that area for many years and have sited many sharks around Saladita. The river mouths are plentiful as are the sea turtles. We try not to go in the water at sunrise and sunset.
comment# 20 - Leo "Bitchdog" Hernandez · Ventura , Calif · May 27, 2008 @ 12:39pm

I sympathize with anyone who loses a family member due to an accidental death. My thoughts and prayers are with Ruiz' family. Sharks are one of the oldest, most feared, and least understood species alive today; people should be more educated when swimming in the ocean simply for their own safety. Hunting and killing sharks to keep tourism active? People will travel to coastal cities all over the world and not bat an eye at the possibility of being attacked; this is definitely NOT the answer.
comment# 21 - MP · St. Louis, MO, USA · May 29, 2008 @ 12:48pm

is always beyond tragic for someone to die in such an incident but to make such comments as to say youhave no sympathy for victim because he went swimming is even beyond that...sharks bears crocs and other wild things are trying to co exist with us as we are them.....sometimes if just doesn't work out i offer my prayers to this mans family and friends
comment# 22 - marshall · frankfort ky usa · Jun 7, 2008 @ 12:50pm

you can call it being at the wrong place at the wrong time sharks very nosy at time but this time it was fatal it's a shame to see these things happen after all the oceans belong to them not us
comment# 23 - Leo · USA · Jun 14, 2008 @ 12:30pm

My heart goes out to the Ruiz family and friends and i pray that they will keep Adrian in their memories...BUT, it is the sharks' territory and we are merely guests and we are lucky that sharks tolerate our presence (besides the occasional attack). I think that sharkfin soup should be banned, that Gypsy shouldn't say things like that, and that it is not the shark's fault for the attack, it is the victim's for being underprepared and not taking the time to check how clear the water is. I sympathize for the family and for Adrian and may he remain in everyone's heart. It is truly sad that he died. ;(
comment# 24 - Anne Marie Robertson · Wadesville, IN USA · Jun 14, 2008 @ 2:55pm

Anne Marie, it is not the surfers fault for "being unprepared." In my 30 years of surfing I have never heard another surfer say, "let's not go out today, the visibility is bad". Besides, attacks happen with poor and great visibility.
comment# 26 - Roijellio · Bodega Bay, USA · Aug 21, 2008 @ 5:28am

Granted us humans maybe invading their territory, but nobody deserves to be taken from us in that way. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Ruiz family and friends.
comment# 27 - tuckigi · Brownsburg, USA · Sep 17, 2008 @ 4:46pm

Granted us humans maybe invading their territory, but nobody deserves to be taken from us in that way. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Ruiz family and friends.
comment# 28 - tuckigi · Brownsburg, USA · Sep 18, 2008 @ 8:38am

Sharks are not a fault,the victim here has been exposed in a vile set of circumstance and a unique accident.There can not be fault on nature rather that is like saying a bee sting is more deadly and thunder bolts strikes are rare each kills triple the amount if blame should be shared it was timing on the fact shark kit and knowledge should be provided as a coroners officer i see fatal accidents daley have studied shark attacks with less than 5 percent figures remaining fatal.Still we regard sharks as primal fear.God rest in peace this unfortunate man
comment# 29 - Lisa · ENGLAND · Dec 6, 2008 @ 9:02am

God be with everyone who loved Adriann,my deepest sympathy goes out to you all! He is with God now swimming in the oceans of heaven,,,God Bless!!!!
comment# 30 - Chris · Oh,USA · Jan 25, 2009 @ 9:13am

We spend at leasd two months in Ixtapa every winter and often go there. I was sad to hear about and are very sorry for his family but I don't think people should not come here and this could happen any place people surf. R.I.P. Adrian and all our sympathy to his friends and family.
comment# 31 - Ron Punton · Winnipeg Canada · Jan 31, 2009 @ 6:24pm

SURFING is beautiful a wonderful sport some countries follow it more than football I have been surfing for 15 years and have seen a number of sharks have even bumped them and it is always scary my last encounter I think it was a tiger shark at matanzas beach in florida south of st. Augustine the fin was coming straight for me so I quickly cut someone off to catch a wave in .my friend said I was pale and I did feal pretty darn scared...gypsy you have never been through any thing like that so you should not be saying anything.. my sympathy go's to Adrians family nobody should attack anyone who has been attacked by a shark...this is making me want to buy a Sharksheild it is electric stimulater type thing that keep them away from you at least 6 meters! there was a dolphin found onetime on the shore of St. Augustine with huge bite marks in it.
comment# 32 - C D JACOB · FLORIDA · Feb 3, 2009 @ 10:05am

Thanks for all the interesting shark stories. How difficult would it be to stop the bleeding in this kind of a wound? It looks like half Adrian's leg was lost, that would mean the femoral artery was severed-- if there had been a surgeon on site I wonder what would have happened. Could he have lived by process of surgery, could the leg have possibly been saved? Is there some field technique military medics use that would have worked? What about E-medicine? What if there had been time on the way to the hospital to connect online with a surgeon and do emergency work by I-phone or other tech method. It's a new world. We love the ocean, we love its species, even though they may be dangerous, and we love to surf. The Sharkshield electronic device sounds very interesting.
comment# 33 - Carolyn Roesbery · Cordova, Alaska · Mar 5, 2009 @ 5:27pm

Come on folks, let's move on, the guy enjoyed his life, took the world by the horns, and he got killed. He died doing what he wanted. How many of you are going to sit at home like a lump of coal, have your wife henpeck you to no ed, then, in an attempt of excitement, pull of the lawnmower and cut the grass (after painting the whiet picket fence around your fortified home (due to all the bad people around). Again, he went out happy, let's all hope we are all doing what we want. In the US we can be killed walking out our front door (or be killed by a whacked out druggie or deranged 23 year-old grade school student). It's called life, get into it and take your chances, just think how many million hours of surfing went down without a problem, and, look at all the press he got out of this. Again, it's called life. Teddo
comment# 34 - Teddo · Japan · May 28, 2009 @ 2:15am

THIS IS ASOMETHING I THINK ABOUT EVERYTIME I ENTER THE WATER. I FEEL THAT WE SURFERS ENTER AN UNKNOWN EVERYTIM WE SET FOOT IN THE OCEAN. I'M SURE, AS WELL AS MOST SURFERS ARE, THAT HE WAS AWARE OF ALL THE POSSIBLE DANGERS WE SURFERS FACE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SPORT AND I'VE BEEN HURT IN MANY WAYS, CUT BY MY FINS, SLAMMED INTO THE SHALLOW SAND, DRUG OVER REEF AND ROCKS, AS WELL AS STUNG AT RAY BAY. MY REGARDS TO HIM AND ALL WHO LOVED HIM. HE IS A FALLEN COMRAD. WE SHOULD ALL LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER OUT THERE EVEN THOUGH ONLY ONE OF US CAN RIDE EACH WAVE AT A TIME. GOD BLESS, SURFER13
comment# 35 - SURFER13LA · TORRANCE,CA · Jun 16, 2009 @ 9:18pm

i feel really bad for the ruiz family and from the way his friends admired him he must have been a special young man. " alot of luv there " the sharks are in the water and we are in the water, most of the time things are fine unless the shark is in feeding mode. i guess the violence of it is what bothers most of us. to die doing what we love wouldn't be that bad.
comment# 36 - martyg · us · Jun 23, 2009 @ 6:52am

kill em all
comment# 37 - ryan · liverpool · Jul 24, 2009 @ 7:50am

i feel really bad for the family if i were his friend i would admire him like almost every day i would drive to his house and drop off things at his house every day and i hope that he will be able to recover
comment# 38 - megan · indianapolis,indiana · Jul 28, 2009 @ 1:14pm

My heart goes out to this mans family and all who knew him. Let me tell you a story. There was a man who use to beat his wife curse his boss, swear to god and lie to his friends. One day he went scuba diving. He saw a big shark. He bow his head and begain to pray, lord I hope that shark didn't see me, I'm a good person, you know my heart. At that moment the shark saw the man and it started to pray also. Lord I've been swimming out here for (2) months without anything to eat, I had faith you would provide. At that moment the man saw the shark turn and said good it better leave. The shark said amen, it turned and attacked the man. Sometime we fail to understand why things happen to some people and not others. The lord will always provide for his faithful ones.
comment# 39 - Steven · Houston, Texas · Oct 13, 2009 @ 12:19pm

Scott, i like your enthusiasm about looking after both humans and the environment but unfortunately im not sure it will work out that way. It worries me that with every shark attack it brings more hatrid (fear) of these beautiful creatures that will inevitably end only in yet further declines in their numbers. Whats the answer to these issues? my condolances do go out to the family but i think the way in which the shark attacks are publised should be entirely different, miss identity is all it is, nothing more and for the press to make it sound any more than that is only escalating the situation.
rob
comment# 40 - rob · wales · Nov 15, 2009 @ 2:02pm

Fellow readers. Allow an anonymous toad like gypsy to provoke you, and he has won. Ignore the troll. Do not respond. As for the shark his cruelty is simply his hunger.
comment# 45 - hd · texas · Feb 5, 2010 @ 7:22am

God rest Adrians soul, I know one of his friends and it severally effected him deeply, his buddy Ryan was in a class I taught today and I'd like to let Ryan know from surfer to surfer, we have both seen Great Whites in Northern California and we know the risks when you enter into their domain. God bless Ryan as he surfs our Northern coast and may God keep an every vigil watch over him as he shreds the waves and communes with nature. The waves are alive and the ocean holds many unseen hazards but with respect and clarity we dance on these waves with no hatred or malice towards these magnificent fish, it's there world and we just visit it's surface as we cut across the faces of it's ever changing waves...
Peace to Ryan, and God bless Adrian and his family.
Rob...
comment# 46 - Rob Williamson · Oakland, United States. · Feb 25, 2010 @ 8:27pm

I've been surfing for over 26 yrs and I'm a avid waterman. Sharks are one of the risks we take when we enter the water. They're not to blame. I've surfed down in Troncones and yes there are a lot of sharks. Sharks are always in the water don't ever forget that. My three rules of surfing shark infested waters are:
1). Don't surf at dusk or dawn.
2). Stay away from river mouths during or after rain fall.
3). Do not urine in the water! Sharks are attracted to your pee!!
Be careful if you see turtles because Tiger Sharks love to eat turtles. Be fearless when your in the water especially if you see a shark. They can sense and feel your fear.
RIP Adrian
comment# 47 - BM25thPres · So Cal · Feb 28, 2010 @ 11:31am

For the love of god.... I hate when people use the term "Shark Attack" Makes it sound intentional. Sharks dont eat, or bite people for the sake of food. They dont have hands, and they cant see color. Anything with 4 limbs looks like food to them. Please know what you are talking about before reporting, or even commenting on a shark related incident.
comment# 48 - Matt Kolman · Tacoma, WA · Aug 4, 2010 @ 11:04pm

Matt,
Tiger shark full of human http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=72143859010
There is no doubt this person was consumed for food.
Maybe you sould change your statement to show you know what you are talking about.
comment# 49 - Sharky · east coast , USA · Sep 8, 2010 @ 6:28am

I went to troncones for the first time in 2006, and when I got there, i saw a few waves, but there was nobody out. I got spooked and did not go out. I went to saladitas and the ranch. The latter is sharky, too.
comment# 51 - Pico · Cali usa · Feb 22, 2011 @ 8:12pm

I went to Cabrillo with Adrian, and moved away from pacifica before junior high. Even then the memories I have are of us jumping in giant puddles of rain water. We lived pretty close to eachother in pacifica. Just randomly watching shark week on animal planet I learned about his death. They say grown men don't cry?! Ha well looking back on our memories together and how remembering how great a person he was and then reading that he was still just like he was later in his life is enough to get me teary eyed! He will never be forgotten by me. -his friend Jimmy from pacifica
comment# 52 - jimmy · novato · Jun 20, 2011 @ 2:01pm

This obviously happened some time ago. My heart goes out to Adrian's circle of family and friends; I'm sure he is still missed even after a year or so.
I saw a link to another article and then I found this story. I'm a doctor and was curious to see the photos of Adrian's fatal injury. I was just curious (after reading many of the comments about the graphic nature of the bite wound) to see if there was anything that might have done to save him.
comment# 53 - Jack Armsteade · Tucson AZ · Jan 17, 2012 @ 9:53am

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